Automatic bag feeder



Feb. 15, 1944. G, ALLEN y Re. 22,434

AUTOMATIC BAG FEEDER OriginalFiled July 25, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR "g' i' Hoa/'ari 6'. .Affen TTORNE Feb. 15, 1944. H. G. ALLEN Re- 22,434

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AUTOMATIC BAG FEEDER Original Fiied July 25, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet B Feb. 15,r 1944. H. G. ALLEN AUToiATIc BAG FEEDER Original Filed July 25, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Feb. 15, 1944.

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Re.I '22,4341

Feb. 15, 1944. H. G. ALLEN l AUTOMATIC BAG FEEDER Original Filed July 25, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 A lNvEN-ron fwara'fAZZen mfr/77 l Y Arron@ Feb. 15, 1944. H. G, ALLEN AUToMATc BAG FEEDER Original Filed July 25, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet l5 ENVEN'OR ATTOR Y Feb. l5; 1944. H. G. ALLEN AUTOMATIC BAG FEEDER Original Filed July 25, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Reima! Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE coronario nso ssamm Hom G.

AllemNiagaraFaliallY.; assigner tedlaehglngllaehinery Corpo ration, aoorporation of New York No. 2,332,187, dated 06Min! 19, 1943,

Serial No. 347,318, July 25, 1940. for reime November 27, 1943,

s1 emma. v(el. zzam This invention relates to. new and useful improvements in article-handling devices and particularly seeks to provide a novel machine for automatically feeding paper bags from a supply stackto anopeningandfillingmachine.

Heretofore various forms of bag-handling devices have been developed which were so designed. andnstructedastobeanintegralpartofabagvfilling machine or the like. Naturally bagtarystructurecapableofbeingusedinconiunc tion with a number of bag opening and/or filling Application lSerial No. Y

and the opening station of the associated opening machine; and vertically reciprocabie at the opening station of the associated opening machine to automatically apply a bag to the opening devices thereof With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will beoomemore apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings. the accompanying detailed description. and the appended claims.

Inthe drawings: Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automatic bagfeeding machine constructed in accordance with f, this invention, the bag filling machine and conmachinesand which is readily 'adaptable for use with bags of various sizes and types, but which does not form an integral part of such opening andilliingmachines.

Therefore an object of this invention is to provide a fully automatic bag-feeding machine which may be -employed to feed bags from o. supply stack to the bag-receiving station of any opening and filling machine with which it is associated.

Another object oi' the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated which may be readily adjusted to handle bags of different sizes. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated that is capable ofuniformiyfeedingbagsat ahighrateofspeed.

Another object of the invention is to provider. machine of the character stated that will withdraw a single bag from a supply stack, partially open the mouth thereof, transfer the partially opened bag from the station adjacent the supply stack to the bag-receiving station of the associated opening and iilling machine, and raise veyor associated therewith being somewhat diagrammaticaliy indicated in their correct relative positions:

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

3 is a detail sectionof the stack holder n line I-I of Fig. l;

is a similar section taken on line i-l of 5 a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of 2, certain of the Amachine parts being tted; f l

B is a transverse vertical section taken on unes-lorries;

thepartiallyopenedliogintorelationv with the bag-opening devices of said opening Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated which includes eiecting eifcctlve to reject any bags withdrawn from the supply stack more than one atatixne. Y

Another obiect of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated which employs novel bag-transfer means including-a carriage nmmyreapramebewnthe simply station I is a longitudinal vertical section taken e 1-1 ofFig. 6 and looking towards the of the machine; 8 is a vertical section taken on line I- of and shows the second step in withdrawing from the stack: 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but shows the upper feed rolls coming into engagement with the bag end;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 8 and 9, but

shows the bag engaged lby the feed rolls;

Fig. 11 is a detail section of the lower portion of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 10 and shows the ejection of two supcrposed bags;

Fig. l2 is a detail vertical section taken on line II-il ofFlg.'I:

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on line Il-II of Fig. 1.2; 4

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken on line iI-il of Fig. 'Iz

Figfl is a vertical section taken on line iS- ofPiSJI:

Fig. 16 isavertical section takenon line iG-IS of Fig.7: Y,

Fig. 1'1 is a vertical section taken on line I1-i1 Fig. i8 is a somewhat fragmentary vertical secll tion taken on line ll-il of Fig. 21;

Fig. 19 is a view of the generalnature of Fig. 18, but showing only the suction cup assembly;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary detail section showing the bag clamped to the bag opener of the associated opening machine;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section taken on line 2l--2I of Fig. 1, looking vtowards the front of the machine and showing the carriage in its retracted position:

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21, but showing 10 the carriage in its fully translated position;

Fig. 23 is a vertical section taken on line 23--23 of Fig. 6 and shows the cam-actuating elements of the suction cup tilting mechanism;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23, but ,show- '15` ing the positions of the parts at the end of the carriage movement to the opening station;

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Figs. 23 and 24but showing the positions of the parts' at the end of the return movement and just prior to time at '2o which suction cups engage a freshly presentedY bag:

Fig. 26 is a vertical section taken on line 26-28 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 27 is a vertical section taken on line 21-21M25 of Fig. 24;

F1g.28 is a vertical section taken on line 2li-2l of Fig. 24;

Fig. 29 is 'a horizontal section taken on line 29-29 of Fig. 23;

Fig. ao is s horizontal section taken on une 30 III-30 of Fig. 23.;

Fig. 31 is a vertical section taken on line II--Ii 0f F18. 26;

Fig. 32 is a vertical section taken on line 32-42 35 Figs. 34, 35 and 36 are somewhat-fragmentary detail sectionsof the latching mechanism;

Fig. 3'1 is a horizontal section taken on line '3l-31 of Fig. 18, certain details of the mechanism being omitted; 45

Fig. 38 is a vertical section generally similar to Fig. 9, but showing a modified mechanism for selecting a bag from the supply stack;

Fig. 39 is a detail section taken on line 39-39 -of Fig. 38, certain of the parts being omitted; and

Fig. 40 is a detail elevational projection taken on line III-40 of Fig. 38, certain 'of the parts being omitted. Referring to the drawings in detail the inventionas illustrated is embodied in anautomatic bag feeding machineA which is adapted to be positioned in cooperative relationship to a bagopening and lling machine indicated at B and a conveyor unit indicated at Il!A for carrying oil' the filled bagsV (see Figs. 1 and 2) 60 In order that the structure and operation of the bag-feeding machine A may be more clearly understood. the description thereof will be 'presented in four phases, namely, the mounting means and driving connections. the bag-feeding -mechanism. the bag cradle and transfer mechanism, and the whole.

Mounting means and driving connections The bag feeding machine in which this invention is embodied is supported as a wholeon a generally rectangular base 5. A pair ofv standards 6 are mounted on one end of the base and operation of the machine as a 'sensed sockets 1. 'rhs stsnasrds t support su of the driven mec of the machine. A motor 3 is mounted on the base and drives a horizontal cam shaft l through the medium of speed 5 reducing belt or other drive generally indicated at il. Theshaftsisjournaledinspaced bearings II adjustably mounted on the respective standards li and are rigidly maintained in alignment by a pair of vertically separated spacer bars |2-|2-secured therebetween.

A pair of bag transfer cradle actuating cams I3 and I4, respectively, are adjustably secured tothe cam shaft 9 in spaced 'relation and are disposed intermediate the bearings Il. A rock arm l5 has one end trunnioned on the lower spacing rod l2 and its other end pivotally connected to averticallydisposedlink liconneotingtherock arm with carriage transversing mechanism to be hereinafter more fully described. The rock arm Il is provided with a roller cam follower I1 mounted intermediate the ends thereof and eny gageable with the cam I3. 'nA second rock arm Il has one end trunnioned on the upper spacing rod i2 and its other end pivotally connected to a vertically disposed link I9 connected to the rock arm and the carriage supporting devices to provide vertical reciprocation thereto. as will be hereinafter more fully described. 4The rock arm II is provided with a roller cam follower 2l mounted intermediate the ends thereof and engageable with the cam I4.

One projecting end of the cam shaft I is provided with'a sprocket gear 2| which drives a second sprocket-gear 22 through an endless sprocket chain 23. 'I'he sprocket gear 22 is fixed to a shaft V24 Journaled in a bracket forming part of the bagfeeding mechanism A and secured to the upper ends of the standards 3. The sprocket gears 2i and 22 are restrained from gyrations through the use of a spacer bar ZI, the ends of which are provided with housings indicated at 28 and which are carried by the respective shafts s and 24, the shafts being freely rotatable relative thereto. Axialdisplacement of the respective housings Il is prevented since the housings are retained between the respective sprocket gears and collars l'l fixed to the shafts with which the housing are associated.

The shaft 2l is also i provided with another sprocket gear 2l rigidly secured thereto. The sprocket gear 28 drives a main cam shaft I! of the bag feeding mechanism through the medium of an endless sprocket chain Il and associated sprocket gear 3| secured to the shaft.

A pair of feed mechanism supporting brackets '3l-32 is adjustably secured to the upper ends of the respective standards l, and each includes an upstanding panel portion 3l and a rearwardly extending panel portion 3l. The rearwardly extending portions 3l are maintained in spaced parallel relation through the use o! spacer bars, the locations of which will be hereinaftermore fully described. The main cam shaft 29 is iournaled in the panel portions M of the brackets 32 and positioned adjacent the upper ends thereof. Y s

The panel portions 34 are further reinforced by a plate 35 spanning the space therebetween and secured to the upper edges thereof. -The .plate 35 supports a small motor 36 which drives a short shaft 31 located therebelow through the medium of pulley and belt connections generally indicated at 3 8. The shaft 31 is iournaled at one Iend in one rear extension Il of the mounting are rigidly secured thereto through the use of 'llii bracket l2 and at its other end' in a bracket ll rigidly .emma mi nier-my spaced from ne bracket. Asmallplniongear4ieeliig. 17) isiixedtotheshaftandwithalarger gear4'l iimedto-anupper feed roll moimting shaftujournaledinthebracketportions I4 and.

hifrontandslightly belowtheshaft 31. Alower feedrollshait isjournaledina ,pairofbrackets44-44dependablysecuredto Bag -feedig mechanism The entirety of the'mechanism for feeding' bags singly from the 'supply stack to the transfer crsdleisearrledbythebracketsil andthe bracket associatedtherewth.'

A bagvmagaxine generally indicated at Il is mounted' on the brackets 32. The magazine il includes a pair of spaced parallel stringers 6I, Il, respectively secured to the upstanding portions 33 of the brackets 32 and are inclined upwardly. 4A plurality of rollers 52 are journaled in the stringers il and are disposed in spaced parallel relation along the length thereof 'to thereby provide supporting means for a stack of bags generally indicated at D. The sides of the il formed from pairs of opposed upwardly promoting standards 53 secured to the stringere il.l Each standard 53 supports a stack confining strap or bar 54 adjustably vmountedV thereon through the medium of relatively long spaced pins i5, 55 which are axially slldable in the standard with which they are associated. Thus the bag coniining straps 54 are movable towards and away from each other to accommodate bags of diilerent widths. It should be noted that the lower ends of the bags supported in the e 5I proiect beyond the A lowermost supporting miler 52 in order that the bag ends may be individually engaged by feeding devices.

In Figs. 6, 8,-.9 and 10 of the drawings there are illustrated "the steps of andmechanism for removingabagfromthemagazine En tothe bag transfer cradle. 'I'he feeding means includes a bracket 56 -adjustably clamped to a transverse rod 51 which forms one of the spacing elements maintaining the brackets 32 in parallel relation. The bracket 56 supports a suction cup bag selector 5l for withdrawing the end. of the bottom begin the stack'into positionto be engaged by gripper jaws, and which includes a cylinder in which a hollow rod Ill is slidably mounted. The rod is normally held within the cylinder -by the action of a-coil spring (not with'a suction cup il. Air is exhausted from the cylinder 5! through an outlet i2 located adjacent that end of the cylinder from which the j rod 6l projects, thereby creating a vacuum within the cylinder of a magnitude sufllcient to overcome theaetion of the spring and thereby pro- ]ectthe rod il outwardlyl until the suction cup -Il thereofcontactsthebottombagoftbestack.

shown) and the outer end of the rod is provided the stack..r The application of suction to the 'selectoriliscontrolledbyvalvemechanisms is of course obvious that more than one selector 58 may be employed if desired.

The lower ends of the bags in the stack are normally prevented from dropping by spring clips t3 resiliently mounted on wing portions t4 of the bagell. '1hwingportions64areused to retain the lower ends ofthe stacked bag in proper lateral alignment. The stacked bags are maintained in proper vertical alignment through the use of an abutment plate t5 against which the ends thereof rest.

Before the rod GII of the bag selector reaches fully retracted position. a gripper device is brought into engagement with the bag end preparatory'to moving the bag into engagement with feed rolls. The gripper includes a bell crank 66 pivotally mounted on a bar t1 which also forms one of the spacing elements between the rear extensions 34 of the brackets l2. The bell crank is provided with-an unstanding short arm 68 and' a relatively long arm 69 having a laterally extending gripper jaw 10 rigidly secured thereto or formed integral therewith. 'I'he arm B9 also carries a movable gripper jaw 1I pivotally connected thereto at a point intermediate its ends and which is adapted to cooperate with the stationary jaw 1II to grip the end of a bag presented therebetween. The other end of the movable jaw 1I is pivotally connected to the lower end of a rod 12. The upperend of the rod 12 is slidably engaged in a block 13 plvotally secured to one base apex point of a generally triangular shaped plate 14. 'I'he other base apex point of the plate 14 is pivotally mounted on `the rod 61. A compression spring 15 is mounted on the rod 'Il and interposed between the block 13 and an ab'utment annulus 16 secured to the rod near the lower end thereof. The upper end of the rod 12 is prevented from disengagement with the block 13 by nuts 11 threadably engaged thereon.

The arm 88 of the bell crank is provided with a` y roller cam follower 18 engageable with an actuating cam 19 secured to the main cam shaft 2! to thereby provide oscillation of the gripper jaw assembly. Movement of the gripper jaw 1I relative to the stationary jaw 10 is e'ected through a roller cam follower 8l! mounted on the triangular 'plate 14 and engageable with a cam Y8l secured to the main cam shaft' 28. Positive contact of the cam followers with the cams 19 and 8l is assured by provision of a tension spring 82 connectingthe plate 14 and the end of arm Bl, thus holding the bell crank 66 and the triangular plate 14 as a unit in any position to which they are moved by the cams.

In the position shown in Fig. 6 the cam follower necting the triangular plate14 and the arm il,

of thev bell'crank permits diiferential movement therebetween which is eifective to v actuate the movable gripper law 1|. After the bag has been gripped the cam 1B turns the bell crank tlgclockwise to move vthe gvperjaws and the bag held therebetween downwardly into engagement with a`stop99. At this stage of the cycle the follower 99 has ridden on the high lift portion of the ca m 9| and is drawn into engagement with the concave portion thereof thereby moving the swivel block 19 into engagement with the nuts 11 on the rod 12, and draws the rod upwardly against the spring. to open the gripper (see Fig. 8). Continued rotation of the cam 19 moves the arm 99 of the bell crank to the position shown in Fig. 9 where the cam follower 99 rides the lowest lift portion of cam .9| and the gripper jaws are again closed. j

During the retraction of the gripper after the bag hasbeen released therefrom, the bag remains registered against the stop 99. The stop comprises a generally U-shaped stop element hav- AOne end of the shaft 99 projects beyond its associated bracket extension 94 and is provided with a short lever 99 secured thereto (see Figs. 7 and 15). A second lever arm 91 of greater length than the arm 99 is secured to a shaft 99 journaled in the extensions 94 and is connected to the arm 99 by a link 99 joining the ends of the arms. The extreme end of the lever 91 is provided with a roller cam follower 99 engageable with a cam 9| secured to the main cam shaft 29. The shaft 99 is thus oscillated by the cam follower and link connections described to thereby swing the stop nngers 99 into and out of the path of travel of a` with. The idle rolls 99 are journaled in bracket ly therefrom. A compression spring 99 is in the aperture 99. 'Ihe two bracket arms 99 and Ill normally move as a single unit, and relative movement therebetweenv takes place only when some abnormal situation arises. such as the presellilation of double decker" bags to the feed ro a The cam and follower connectionsy 99 and 9| which actuate the stop 99 also effect oscillation ofthe shaft 9| in timed relation thereto to bring the idle rolls 99 into and out of engagement with the driven rolls 92 for timed feeding operations.

'I'he bag is thus fed by the upper acto: feed rolls Il, 499 to a lower set of feed rolls located to present the'bag to the bag-traversing cradle assembly. As a bag leaves the` upper feed lrolls the longitudinal edges thereof are supported in grooved portions of opposed channel-supporting members lnlvhaving the lower ends, |99 thereof secured to the inner faces of thefeedfroll moun ing panels 94.

A pair of knurled feed rolls |99. |99 are secured Vresting on the upper edges of the'adjaeent panel sections Il (see Figs. 7, 10 and 15).

After the bag end passesbetween the-lower feed rolls |99 and |91 it is received into a chute rdeflned by a pair of generally` opposed guide plates Il! and III pivotally secured between the mounting panels Il, and which deects the path of travel of the bag downwardly into. a receiver Ill preparatory to presentation to the associated bag opening machine B. l

Control means are provided for automatically detecting and ejecting any "double decker bags that might accidentally be withdrawn from the stack. In this connection the rearwardly projecting ends ofthe idle roll support brackets |99 are each provided with an aperture through which an eye-bolt H9 extends, with the stem .Y

' thereof projecting upwardly (seeFig. 15).` 'I'he mounted on the stud and retained thereon by l nuts |99. A second bracket arm lillis freely mounted on lthe shaft 99 and retained in a`position adjacent the arm 95 as by a collar or other means, not shown. The bracket |9| carries 'a short shaft |92 which rotatably supports the idle roll 99. and one end of which projects into the aperture 99 of the arm 95. The bracket4 |9| is provided with an arm |99 extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft 99, [and the end of which fits over the stud 99 and is disposed intermediate the spring 99 i and the abutment shoulder 91. Through the use of the mounting means as described for the idle rolls 99 the idle rolls are provided with some degree of self-adjustment to avoid any damaging pinching of the bag paper and to permit passage of any "double dockers" to detecting and ejecting means, the

nature of which will be hereinafter described.

The spring 99 is normally adjusted to hold the arm |99 against the abutment shoulder 91 and :hereby maintain the thany m centrally disposed eye of the bolt III is'pivotally'connected to the f ree end of a lever arm ||9 which is fixed to a rock shaft ||1 journaled in the vmounting panels Il slightly below and to the rear of the feed rolls |99, |91. A plurality of bag, deiiecting fingers ||9 are secured to the rock shaft ||1 in spaced Aparallel relation and project upwardly and forwardly against the direction of travel of the bags. The normal position of the fingers is in a plane l out oi' the exact path of travel of the bags and this position is obtained by raising and lowering The free ends of the brackets |99, by Vvirtue ofv the speclc mode of attachment fof the brackets to the panels Il, will partake of a magnied up4 ward movement, thereby drawing on the bolt H9 and the free end of the arm ||9 theresociated therewith.

clockwise direction and move the ends ofthe lingers I "downwardly MIOSS the Path' of travel of the bags (see Fig. 11). The "double dockers are thus ejected out over the top of the defiecting plate I I2.

in the feeding of the bags formed from relatively light paper it may be found desirable to provide supporting means vfor thecentral portions of the bags as they are moved from the upper set oi' feed rolls to the lower set; such means include a pair of spaced parallel supporting bars |23, |23 secured to a mounting block |2| which is rigidly ailixed to one spacer element 43 extending between the mounting panels 44.

Bag cradle and transfer mechanism proper registry with bag mouth opening elements formingpart of the carriage structure and includes front and rear walls ||5 and H3', re-

Theupperendsofthespacing members |35 of the cradle'l project upwardly and to aline slightly above and to the rear of the upper stringer |34, and` are provided with apertures through which a horizontally disposed rod |33 extends. The rod |33"1constih1tes the main supporting means for the cradle |33. Y

A bracket, |33 is mounted on therod |33 and carries a plurality ofrearwardlyextending suction cups |43 adapted to engage the top front wall portion of the bafg D resting in the receiver I|4. The suction cups |43 are mounted in bank formation and are connected to a source-of .vac-

uum through a sentie noie lu and a. control valve, the of which lwill behereinafter spectively, an end wall ||1', and a bottom IIB'.

The front wall ||5' is provided with mounting flanges ||3 for fastening the receiver to a bracket |23' carried by the main supporting frame for the carriage. It should be noted that the width of the front and'rear walls ||5' and H3' is less than the width of the bag so that devices, the nature of which will be hereinafter described,

. can accurately register the bag against the end The bag-traversing devices as a whole are mounted on a supporting cradle generally indicated at E. The cradle comprises a right angle supporting plate having a horizontal shelf portion |2| vand a vertical wall portion |22. A pair of vertical spacedparallel angle beams |23, |23 are secured to the front face of the wall portion |22 and are located near the central lportion thereof. Each beam |23 carries a pair of laterally extending and vertically spaced roller mounting blocks |24 having faces |25, |23 disposed perpendicular to each other and provided with studs |21 normal to the faces |23 and |23. A roller |23 is mounted on each stud |21. and is ble with the main frame standard 3 as- Thus the supporting cradle E -is 'carried by the standard 3 and is adapted for vertical reciprocatory movement therebetween.

The vertical wall portion |22 of'the supporting plate carries a lower horizontal rearwardly extending shelf or bracket extension |29 supported by suitable braces as indicated at |33. The rear edge of the extension |23 is disposed in vertical alignment with the rear edge of the horizontal shelf portion |2|. The underside of the shelf |2| and the upper sidev of the extension |23 are respectively provided with rails |3| of A square cross-section and mounted V-chocks |32.

Lateral traversing movement of a bag is provided through use of a'second cradle assembly generally indicated at |33 and which is mounted between the horizontal'rails |3|. The cradle |33 includes a generally rectangular frame having a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal stringers |34 of square cross-section and a pair of vertically disposed spacing i members |35 rigidly secured therebetween (see Figs. 6, 18, and 22). Each stringer |34 is provided with horizontally spaced sets of guiding and retaining rollers |33 arranged in complementary pairs of studs |31 angularly spaced 90 and engageable with the rails |3| to thereby rollably support the cradle |33-therebemore fully described.

A second set of suction clips .|42 is vadapted to be brought into andoutpfengagement with the top rear face of the bag D and vis mounted on thehorizontally extending portion |44 oi a vertically disposed mounting bar |43. The lower end of the bar |43 is secured in the rear end of a tilting lever |45 pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the lower end of a nounting strap |43 carried by the horizontal barY |33. The lower end of the strap |45 is maintained in rigid position relative to the frame of thecradle |33 by an angle brace |41.V

The forwardlend of the tilting lever |45 is provided with a stud |43 havinga roller cam follower |43 mounted thereon and adapted to be engaged in the slot of a plate cam assembly used as' actuating means for .the tilting bar |43 at properly timed intervals to bring .the suction cups |42 into and out of engagement with the bag D and to partially open the mouth of a bag vin conjunction with the suction cups |43. The

forward end of the lever |45 is constantly urged downwardly by the action of spring and rod connectlons generally indicated at :|53 and extending between the forward end of the lever and an angle beam |5| of the cradle frames The lower end of the mounting hat'A |43 may be provided with an angle pie |52 having a cap screw |53 threadably engaged in the flange thereof and which is adjustable toiimit downward swinu g of the forward end of theY tilting lever Oscillation of the tiltinglever |45 is effected through the medium of a contour cam bly generally indicated at |54 V'and with which the cam follower |43 is engageable.' Y

The cam assembly |54 includes a nearv main cam plate |55 securedto a-bracket |33 dependably fastened to the-horizontal |23 and spaced therefrom by spacer' |51. It is therefore readily apparent that thecam assembly |54 is stationarily mounted ionA main cradle assembly E and that the Vtraversing carrlage |33 is laterally movable relaiive thereto. The cam plate |55 is provided with-a main cam A follower receiving slot |53 of vthe general concam plates |33 and |3| respectively which are' rigidly secured thereto and spaced therefrom by spacer elementsV |32. v .'l'he secondary cam plates |33 and |3|'- are respectively provided with oppositely directed slots |33V Yand l y lle with vertically spaced T-shaped blocks |35 and |33 mounted on stud bolts |31 kand |33 secured parts 'attached to the 'tothe cam plate nu; Thus the secondary 'cana' plates |99 and |9|, together with the backing plate |59. are vertically reciprocable relative to its associated spring |99 through the mediumto the main cam plete |55. The secondary cam plate |59 functions to direct the path of travel of the cam follower |49 when the mechanism is in the position indicated in Fig. 23: and the secondary cam plate |9| functions to direct the path of travel of the `cam follower |49 when the mechanism is in the position indicated in Fig. 24.

The cradle E is provided with a lug "|99 secured thereto and pivotallyA connected to the lower end of a link |19. The upper end of the link |19 is pivotally connected to one end of a lever |1| which is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the cam plate |55 as at |12 and has its free end |13 -engageable with an undercut shoulder |14` formed in one end of the secondary cam x The secondary cam plates |99 and 9| and the associated backing plate |59 are adapted to be maintained in raised position during a portion of the cycle of operation by a latch dog |15 normally disposed to one side of the T block' |99, but adapted to rest on the upper face thereof. The dog |19 is rigidly and dependably secured to one end of an arm |16 pivotally mounted at |11 in the space between the cam plate |55 and the backing plate |59 and having an'upturned end portion |19 adapted to be engaged and depressed by the cam follower |49. The end |18 of the arm |19 1s constantly urged upwardly by the action of a tension spring |19 extending between 'a stud |99 secured to the arm |19 and astud |9| 'secured to the backing plate |59.

`Application of vacuum to the sets oi.' suction cups |49 and1|42 is controlled through a valve assembly generally indicated at |92 (see Figs. 7, 14, 16 and 17). The valve assembly |92 includes a chambered casing |93 rigidly secured to one rear bracket extension 34 by bolts |94 and spaced therefrom by spacing elements |95. The casing |93 is provided with an upstanding lug having a bearing boss |99 formed integral therewith and adapted to pivotally support a pair of valve levers |81 and |99, respectively, located on opposite sides of the casing. The lower end of the lever |91 is provided with a slide valve |99 of the unbalanced'D type, and the lower end of the lever |99 is provided with a similar valve |99.

The valve casing |93 is connected to a source into" open communication with a chamber |92 formed in the casing. The suction cups |49 and |42 are connected to the valve by the hose |'4| extending into open communication with a chamber |93 formed inthe valve casing; and the bag `lever and extending through an upstanding lug |91 formed on the valve casing |99. The proiecting end of the rod carries avcompression spring |99' mounted thereon and interposed between the lug |91and retaining nuts |99 threadably engaged on the end of the rod |99.

.l The valvefle'vr m isosciuad in opposition 291. e nected to the short arm 296 of the bell crank and L.. `of vacuum (not shown) by a hose |9| extending of a cam,v follower 299 mounted on the upper end of the lever and engageable actuating cam 29|' adjustably secured to the main cam shaft 29: and the valve lever |99 is oscillated in opposition to its associated spring |99 through the medium of a cam follower 292 mounted on the upper end of the lever and engageable with an actuating cam 293 adjustably mounted on the main cam shafts 29.

The cam 29| is comprised of two relatively adjustable plates movable to vary the period of dwell of the cam follower 299 in order to facilitate proper timing of the bag selector 59 in withdrawing bags from a stack and presenting them to the feed rolls. vThe cam 293 is provided with a long period of dwell in order that the suction cups |49 and |42 may be maintained in eilective operation during opening of the bag mouth and transfer of the'bag from the feeding station to the associated bag-opening and filling machine.

The cradle |33 is adapted to be horizontally traversed by mechanism which includes a bellcrank lever 294 pivotally secured at 295 to the frame of the-vertically reciprocable cradle E and is provided with a short arm 295 and a long arm .Ir-tension spring 299 has its upper end conits lower end adjustably secured adjacent one mounting ange 1 of the standard 9. The spring 299 constantly tends to move the bell crank 294 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 295 thereby attempting to move the upper end of the arm 291 thereof in a general left to right direction. A

link 299 has one end Ypivotally connected to thel upper end of the arm 291 and its other end pivotally connected to the traversing cradle |33.V 'I'huslateral oscillation of the upper end of the arm 291 of the bell crank will effect a lateral reciprooation of the cradle assembly |33 to move a bag from the feed station to the opening station of the associated bag opening and filling machine.

The right to left movement of the cradle as sembly |33 is effected through use of a sprocket chain 2 9 having its upper end secured to a collar 2|| fastened to one standard 9 and its lower end secured to the link 9. The sprocket chain 2 I9 is carried over a pair of sprocket gears 2|2, 2|2 rotatably mounted on the frame of the vertically movable cradle E and is also formedinto a bight intermediate the gears 2|2 which is engaged over a sprocket gear 2|3 rotatably mounted on the arm 291 of the bell crank 294 and located intermiediate the end of the arm and the pivot 295. Thus if the link I6 is moved downwardly by action of the cam I3 on the rock arm l5, the

. bight of the chain 2| 9 will be shortened and the sprocket gear 2 3 will be drawn to the left thereby pivoting the bell crank 294 counter-clockwise and moving the upper end of the arm 291 thereof to the left and move the cradle |33 to its starting position.

Operation It is believed that the description of the bagfeeding mechanism from the supply stack to the receiver is suiciently clear that it is unnecessary at this time to include a detailed description of `the operation thereof.

bag.. At this time the idle roll 93 is moved towards 

